Yamanashi Prefecture facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yamanashi Prefecture |
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| Capital | Kōfu | ||||||||
| Region | Chūbu | ||||||||
| Island | Honshū | ||||||||
| Governor | Shōmei Yokouchi | ||||||||
| Area (rank) | 4,465.38 km² (32nd) | ||||||||
| - % water | 1.3% | ||||||||
| Population (February 1, 2011) | |||||||||
| - Population | 861,431 (41st) | ||||||||
| - Density | 192.91 /km² | ||||||||
| Districts | 5 | ||||||||
| Municipalities | 27 | ||||||||
| ISO 3166-2 | JP-19 | ||||||||
| Website | pref.yamanashi.jp | ||||||||
| Prefectural Symbols | |||||||||
| - Flower | Fujizakura (Sakura) | ||||||||
| - Tree | Kaede (Japanese Maple) | ||||||||
| - Bird | Uguisu (Bush Warbler) | ||||||||
| - Fish | |||||||||
 Symbol of Yamanashi Prefecture |
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Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県, Yamanashi-ken) is a special area in Japan. It is called a prefecture. You can find it in the Chūbu region on the island of Honshū. The main city and capital of Yamanashi is Kōfu.
Contents
Discovering Yamanashi Prefecture's Past
Yamanashi Prefecture has a long and interesting history. Long ago, during the Heian period, this area was known as Kai Province. It kept this name for many years.
How Yamanashi Got Its Name
The name changed during the Meiji period. This was a time when Japan was making many big changes.
- 1869 – Kai Province was first renamed Kōfu Prefecture.
- 1871 – Just two years later, Kōfu Prefecture was renamed again to what we know today as Yamanashi Prefecture.
Exploring Yamanashi's Geography
Yamanashi Prefecture is located in the middle of Japan. It is a landlocked area, meaning it does not have a coastline. Instead, it is surrounded by mountains.
Neighboring Regions and Famous Mountains
Yamanashi shares its borders with several other prefectures. These include Tokyo Prefecture, Kanagawa Prefecture, Saitama Prefecture, Shizuoka Prefecture, and Nagano Prefecture. The central part of Yamanashi is a large flat area called the Kōfu Basin. This basin is surrounded by tall mountains. One of the most famous mountains in Japan, Mount Fuji, is located on the southern border of Yamanashi with Shizuoka.
Major Cities in Yamanashi
Yamanashi Prefecture has many cities where people live and work. The capital city is Kōfu.
- Chūō
- Fuefuki
- Fujiyoshida
- Hokuto
- Kai
- Kōfu (the capital city)
- Kōshū
- Minami-Alps
- Nirasaki
- Ōtsuki
- Tsuru
- Uenohara
- Yamanashi
Towns and Villages Across Districts
Besides cities, Yamanashi also has smaller towns and villages. These are grouped into different districts.
- Kitatsuru District
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- Kosuge
- Tabayama
- Minamikoma District
- Minamitsuru District
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- Dōshi
- Fujikawaguchiko
- Narusawa
- Nishikatsura
- Oshino
- Yamanakako
- Nakakoma District
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- Shōwa
- Nishiyatsushiro District
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- Ichikawamisato
Protecting Nature: National Parks
A large part of Yamanashi Prefecture is dedicated to nature. About 27% of the land is protected as national parks. These parks help keep the beautiful natural areas safe for everyone to enjoy.
Important Shrines and Temples
Yamanashi is home to many important religious sites. These include Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples.
- Asama jinja is the most important Shinto shrine in the prefecture. It is known as the ichinomiya.
- Takeda jinja is another famous shrine. It is connected to a very important historical figure named "Takeda Shingen".
Related Pages for More Learning
- Provinces of Japan
- Prefectures of Japan
- List of regions of Japan
- List of islands of Japan
- Ventforet Kofu
Images for kids
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Mount Fuji from the Misaka Pass, Yamanashi
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Autumn at Senga Falls, North of Kōfu
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Prefectural Office
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Kōfu Basin, Kōfu City and view of Mt. Fuji
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Yatsugatake-Kogen Higashizawa Bridge near Kiyosato
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Nishizawa Waterfall on the Fuefuki River, Chichibu-Tama-Kai National Park, Yamanashi
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Lighting street torches at the Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, Fire Festival
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Yamanashi Chuo Bank Stadium in Kōfu.
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JR Chuo Main Line SuperAzuza passing Yatsugatake, near Hokuto, Yamanashi
See also
In Spanish: Prefectura de Yamanashi para niños
